Chlorine

Q: I clean my patio with a Clorox solution every year to get rid of the yellow-green stuff that grows on it, and then I flush it with a hose. Will the bleach bother plants? A:Chlorine is toxic to plants -- and all living things, for that matter. Just how toxic it is depends on the concentration and the duration of exposure. Your plants might not be harmed by a weak solution of chlorine bleach, but horticultural educator Denise Ellsworth of the Ohio State University Extension in Summit County believes it's better not to take a chance.

In the past, no one gave chlorine in public pools a second thought. It's an effective disinfectant for combating filth. But now researchers are investigating the "pool chlorine hypothesis," a relatively new theory that asks whether the rise in childhood asthma stems from swimming indoors. Specifically, the concern is about overexposing very young children to the toxic gases and aerosols found in the air of indoor chlorinated pools. The most recent evidence comes from Belgian researcher Alfred Bernard, who co-authored an ecological study that found a link between the number of indoor chlorinated swimming pools and the prevalence of asthma in children in various countries.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Three trucks rigged with chlorine and explosives blew up in the Sunni insurgent center of Anbar province on Friday, killing at least 8 people and sickening hundreds, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Saturday. The U.S. military also reported the deaths of six American soldiers in other attacks. The chlorine attacks -- two near Fallujah and one near Ramadi -- left at least 350 people and seven U.S. soldiers ill from exposure to the chemical, the military said. At least eight people were killed in the Fallujah bombings, including two policemen, said Sadoun Abdul Karim, an official with the Ministry of Interior.

SENSIBLE HOME JAMES DULLEY Q. I want to use filtered water to remove chlorine when bathing and showering. Installing a whole-house filtering system is expensive and seems wasteful. Is there any way to filter just the bath water? A. When people think about filtering and purifying the water in their homes, they usually think about water used for drinking and cooking. The exposure to chemicals in water is also significant when water is flowing over your body and you are breathing the warm water vapor.

A fire in a building at South Bend's water treatment plant turned out to be a minor electrical problem, but not before hazardous materials crews were alerted because of chlorine in the building. The fire was reported at about 2 a.m. at the plant, along Riverside Drive near Pinhook Park on the city's north side, South Bend dispatchers said. The immediate area was blocked off while firefighters assessed the problem, working from a distance because of the possible chlorine problem. But the fire, spotted on the roof of Building 11, quickly burned itself out. No one was believed to be injured at the scene.

DonÂ?t put bleach in your birdbath. Somebody asked me if you can do that to kill the mosquitoes. I asked several naturalists who didnÂ?t think that was such a hot idea. They referred me to Dave Gunter, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited. He agreed that bleach is a no no. He sells some stuff he says you can put in your birdbath to kill mosquitoes and keep algae from forming. Other places that sell bird food and birdbaths probably carry it too. But Gunter said mosquitoes donÂ?

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On hot, sticky days, there's nothing more refreshing than jumping into a cold pool. But how can you tell if the water is clean and safe? It's not easy, say experts in pool health and safety. Even clear, sparkling pools can harbor bacteria. And a strong chlorine smell, often followed by stinging eyes and coughing, doesn't necessarily mean swimmers are safe: It's a noxious byproduct of chlorine binding to mass amounts of urine and sweat, said Michael Beach, an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

NILES -- Asked to rate the Niles Wastewater Treatment Plant on a scale of 1 to 10, a consultant gave it an 8 or 9. But that was purely from the standpoint of its manner of operation. Grand Rapids consultant Jack Rafter rated the facility, last updated 27 years ago, no better than a 3 or a 4 as far as its aging equipment. "Certain pieces are less reliable than others," Rafter told the Niles City Council at a work session Monday night. The council took no action, but it will be forced soon to make some painful decisions.

I was looking at my home's back steps, constructed of pressure-treated wood, and decided it was time for the annual get-rid-of-the-mildew-and-seal-them program. For some reason, they aren't looking as green as they were last year, so the job will be a snap. It has been a long time since I discussed deck cleaning in this space, probably because these few steps are all I have taken since we sold the house with the deck 12 years ago. But because the summer entertainment season is coming, it might be appropriate to run through deck-cleaning 101 before the arrival of hotter weather, when things dry too quickly or not at all. If your deck is in a spot where the sun always shines, it is highly unlikely that there is a lot of mildew coating the wood.

CLEVELAND Officer investigating beer drinkers killed A police officer who was shot investigating a group of men drinking beer inside an abandoned garage died hours later at a hospital, authorities said Saturday. Derek Owens, 36, and another officer approached the men Friday night and chased them when they started to run away, police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said. Owens caught up with one of the men, who turned around and shot the officer in the stomach just beneath his bulletproof vest, Stacho said.

I was looking at my home's back steps, constructed of pressure-treated wood, and decided it was time for the annual get-rid-of-the-mildew-and-seal-them program. For some reason, they aren't looking as green as they were last year, so the job will be a snap. It has been a long time since I discussed deck cleaning in this space, probably because these few steps are all I have taken since we sold the house with the deck 12 years ago. But because the summer entertainment season is coming, it might be appropriate to run through deck-cleaning 101 before the arrival of hotter weather, when things dry too quickly or not at all. If your deck is in a spot where the sun always shines, it is highly unlikely that there is a lot of mildew coating the wood.

DonÂ?t put bleach in your birdbath. Somebody asked me if you can do that to kill the mosquitoes. I asked several naturalists who didnÂ?t think that was such a hot idea. They referred me to Dave Gunter, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited. He agreed that bleach is a no no. He sells some stuff he says you can put in your birdbath to kill mosquitoes and keep algae from forming. Other places that sell bird food and birdbaths probably carry it too. But Gunter said mosquitoes donÂ?

ELKHART -- A chlorine leak at the Elkhart Water Works office shut down a portion of Main Street for about an hour Saturday. A Hazardous Materials crew was called to 921 N. Main St., a little after 4:40 p.m. Saturday to respond to the chlorine leak. The cause of the leak is unknown, but emergency personnel called to the scene said no one was injured and the spill was contained quickly. The street was reopened by 6 p.m.

A chlorine leak at the Elkhart Water Works office temporarily shut down a portion of Main Street. HAZMAT crews were called to 921 N. Main St. a little after 4:40 p.m. Saturday to respond to the chlorine leak. Crews are still on the scene for cleanup and Elkhart dispatch said the situation is currently under control.

A fire in a building at South Bend's water treatment plant turned out to be a minor electrical problem, but not before hazardous materials crews were alerted because of chlorine in the building. The fire was reported at about 2 a.m. at the plant, along Riverside Drive near Pinhook Park on the city's north side, South Bend dispatchers said. The immediate area was blocked off while firefighters assessed the problem, working from a distance because of the possible chlorine problem. But the fire, spotted on the roof of Building 11, quickly burned itself out. No one was believed to be injured at the scene.

COLD SPRING, Minn. (AP) -- Nearly 40 students were injured Wednesday by a chlorine gas leak in the pool area of a high school, officials said. Thirty-six students and one adult were taken to hospitals from Rocori High School, Mayor Doug Schmitz said. At least one other person was injured. Fourteen students and the adult will be kept overnight at St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment, authorities said. None of the patients was critically ill, said Thomas Schrup, the acting director of the hospital's emergency response team.

CLEVELAND Officer investigating beer drinkers killed A police officer who was shot investigating a group of men drinking beer inside an abandoned garage died hours later at a hospital, authorities said Saturday. Derek Owens, 36, and another officer approached the men Friday night and chased them when they started to run away, police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said. Owens caught up with one of the men, who turned around and shot the officer in the stomach just beneath his bulletproof vest, Stacho said.

Q: I clean my patio with a Clorox solution every year to get rid of the yellow-green stuff that grows on it, and then I flush it with a hose. Will the bleach bother plants? A:Chlorine is toxic to plants -- and all living things, for that matter. Just how toxic it is depends on the concentration and the duration of exposure. Your plants might not be harmed by a weak solution of chlorine bleach, but horticultural educator Denise Ellsworth of the Ohio State University Extension in Summit County believes it's better not to take a chance.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On hot, sticky days, there's nothing more refreshing than jumping into a cold pool. But how can you tell if the water is clean and safe? It's not easy, say experts in pool health and safety. Even clear, sparkling pools can harbor bacteria. And a strong chlorine smell, often followed by stinging eyes and coughing, doesn't necessarily mean swimmers are safe: It's a noxious byproduct of chlorine binding to mass amounts of urine and sweat, said Michael Beach, an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.